HUD seeks entries for new award on reducing affordable housing barriers
Housing and Urban Development, (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced a new national awards program designed to recognize local governments for reducing regulatory barriers to affordable housing.
What Is a Regulatory Barrier?
Regulatory barriers are public statutes, ordinances, regulations, fees, processes and procedures that significantly restrict the development of affordable housing without providing a commensurate health or safety benefit. These barriers can effectively exclude working individuals such as teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses and returning veterans from living in the communities where they work.
In addition, senior citizens often find it extremely difficult to find suitable housing near their adult children while young families likewise face difficulties in finding a home in the communities where they were raised. Local communities interested in sharing innovative strategies to overcome regulatory barriers to affordable housing can visit www.regbarriers.org.
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HUD is accepting nominations and intends to recognize 10 local governments for their outstanding work to encourage the production of homes affordable to working families.
The Affordable Communities Awards Program builds on President George W. Bush’s proposed Opportunity Zone Initiative to create more jobs and expand homeownership opportunities for lower income families living in transitioning communities.
"It‘s important to recognize and reward communities that assume a leadership role to encourage the production of affordable housing," said Jackson. "Across this great nation, local communities are removing barriers to affordable housing and opening more doors to homeownership for hard working families. "
Interested individuals or groups may nominate either a state or local government that has demonstrated extraordinary achievements in eliminating regulatory barriers to housing affordability. State and local governments may also nominate themselves or other local units of government for awards. Submissions will be evaluated and selected by senior-level HUD staff that comprises the Department’s Affordable Communities Initiative Team.
Applications for the 2005 Affordable Communities Awards at www.hud.gov/utilities/intercept.cfm?/initiatives/affordableawards.pdf must be postmarked no later than March 15. For a detailed description of the nomination and selection process, visit www.hud.gov/affordablecommunities.
Bush’s proposed Opportunity Zone Initiative recognizes that a strong partnership between the federal government and local communities is needed to overcome barriers that prevent working families from owning a home of their own. In addition, to help more Americans achieve the American dream of owning their own home, Bush set a new public-private goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing by 7 million over the next 10 years.
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